Heel-shaping machine



c. s-rRAw y HEEL-SHAPING MACHINE April 14, 1942.

Filed May 1s.` 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1` INVENIOR LAYra/V 6TH/sw BY fum/W A'r'roRNEY yApril 14, l1942. c, s'i'RAw HEEL'SHAPING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1939 Mx/M ATTORNEY April 14, 1942.

C. STRAW IHEEL-SHAPING'MACHINE Filed May 13.' 1959 4 Sheets-Shes? 3 INVENTCR April 14, 1942. c. STRAW HEEL-SHAPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 15, 1959 INVENTOR l ATTORN EY Patented Apr. 14, 1942 Clayton Straw, Hennike Finisher, Inc., Massachusetts r, N. H., assignor to Heel Boston, Mass., a corporation of Application May 13, 1939, Serial No. 273,442

17 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for cutting or trimming previously-built-up heel blanks into finished form, and has as its object to provide an improved machine of this type capable of cutting heel blanks made of leatherboard smoothly and accurately into finished form. Additionally, the invention aims to provide such a machine which may be run by unskilled labor with safety and with a minimum of physical exertion, at a rapid rate of production of highquality heels, so that substantial economy will be effected while producing a superior article. Further aims are to increase and facilitate the adaptability of the machine to the making of heels of different sizes, heights, shapes, and patterns, and to increase the safety and accuracy of operation of the machine.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner of attainment of these and the stated aims of the invention, are as made plain hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the machlne is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, omitting thetiming mechanism, which is shown in Figs. 8 to 14.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of certain parts connected with the turret, showing the means for rotating the heel on a vertical axis during the cutting.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing details of the track on which the heel-spindles travel from loading to working position.

Fig. 5 shows in elevation, and Fig. 6 in plan, certain details of construction of the individual heel-spindles carried by the turret.

Fig. 7 is a detail showing in vertical section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 the movable mounting of the cutter and motor tab Fig. 8 shows the mechanism for automatically driving the various parts of the machine in the proper timed relation to each other. y

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9 8 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section partly online 9 9 and partly on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14, are details of the mechanism of Fig. 8.

Figs. 15 and 16 are side elevation and plan views respectively showing one type of the heel on the work-support, illustrating the relation of the cutter blade, the blade being lower in its stroke in Fig. 16.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a different ,type of heel, showing its relation to the cutter blade.

Fig. 18 shows a special cam used to make fancy heels.

Fig. 19 shows in perspective the type of fancy heels made by the use of the cam of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a bottom view of the fancy heel of Fig. 19.

'Ihe present machine employs the principle of the turret head carrying a plurality of worksupports successively propelled and manipulated by an automatic indexing mechanism into a plurality of locations or stations where successive operations are performed on the heel.

The heel-blank I on which the machine operates comprises lifts of leatherboard with rectangular edges and Aof successively increased area, glued, pressed@ and nailedk together to have a shape approximating closely the shape to be given the finishedvheel, but slightly larger at all points on its sides to allow for cutting to shape. The end of the rheel which is to be seated against the shoe is cupped, While the tread surface is plane, and before being presented to the present machine the breast of the heel-blank has been given its usualy concave shape by a trimming operation. The tread end is customarily provided with a leather or rubber tread lift, and preferably a top lift of harder material such as fiberboard is used on the cupped end.

The heel-blank I is placed on the heel-support or turn-table 3 of one of the plurality of heelspindles mounted on rotating turret 4, numbering two inthe present machine, while such turntable occupies a position at the front or righthand end of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, well away from the cutter. The cupped end of the heel-blank is applied to an aluminum plate 5 forming the slanting surface of the turntable, with its breast pressed against a breastgauge 1 and one side pressed against a rearwardly-extending gauge-finger 9, momentarily swung into heel-engaging position by means of its supporting arm II pivoted at I3 on a bracket in connection with the turret. If necessary, a sheet of paper or other suitable material may be interposed between the heel and'plate 5 to assist in cutting the berboard lift cleanly and without feather edges. The presser I5 is then brought down by raising handle I'I to clamp the heel-blank against the surface'of plate 5, impaling it securely on short pins I 2, whereupon foot treadle 2| is depressed, causing the indexing mechanism to be put in driving engagement with constantly rotating motor 23, whereby turret 4 is rotated on a Xed axis through 180 and While also lifting and vthe sides of the heel-blank are trimmed into through the heel, and simultaneously effects the 21 carrying the cutter 25' movement ofl table and motor 23 toward and from the heel-blank, lowering the turret, so that the desired shape and profile. At the completion of the cutting operation, the indexing mechanism comes to rest, and a second pressure upon foot treadle 2| again starts the indexing mech# anism on its c'ycle, automatically rotating the turret through one-half turn, bringing the other turn-table or Work-support and a new heelblank placed theeron by the operator duringthe described cuttingv operation into position to 4be operated on Vby the cutter,` the operator thereupon replacing thev previously trimmedheelby anew blank, and so on throughout the continued operationofthe machine. Y

:aar/9,8%

- the heel-blank; and

turret is moving. The full-diameter periphery of counter engages a dog 83 xed to lever 55 as soon as shaft 49 commences to rotate, thus holding the lever depressed until the notch in the rim of counter 15 has made a complete circuit and is again in position to receive dog 83, pull-spring 85 then rocking the lever.` to cause'y its `end to engage the shoulder on control-sleeve-53 andtlir'ow out the clutch. During this rotation of the counter, shaft 49 has made the necessary number of rotations to imparta half turn to the turret. Appropriate. change is made in the ratio of gears 1S, 8|, where zthree, four,l or more, work-supports are employed aboutthe turret.

To start the necessary relative movements of the cutter after the blank to shaft 11 wane the has A`been brought into working position by the To render the operation of shapingthe-heels fully automatic, thus requiring only theservices of unskilled. labor to feed themachine, the indexing, timing and controlling mechanism of Fig. 8 is employed,y mainly located cna shelf 29 mounted wthinframe 3| of A the machine below the working parts already described. To drive this mechanism, constantly running motor 23 imparts continuous rotation to a longitudinal countershaft 33 by meansL of 'jacksh'aft- 35, intervening bevel gears 31, 43 driven bya pulley xed on the motor shaft. 'I o rotate the turretin a clockwise direction, a longitudinal shaft 45 isv constantly driven from countershaft33 by to a (io-aligned shaft 4 9 through a single-revolution clutch 5`| of known and standard design ,having Va control-.-

sleeve 53 at one end which 'is held from rotawith a shoulder thereon,

tion by engagement, of one end of 4a lever in rocking relation equipped near its other end with a shoulder A59. This shoulder is "adapted to be engaged by` a shoulder 6| on avertical push-rod vB3 connected through an arm 55 witha' rockshat61 onwhch the foot treadle 2| is also'flxd. `TWltieneverl4 the yfoot treadle is depressed, the release vof controlsleeve "53 by lever'55 causes clutch 5lv to drive shaft 49 in unisony with shaft 45,` thus rotating 'a vertical shaft 69 through apprpriatebevel gears, and causing Aafspur end of shaft 69"'and engaging with an internal gear 13.at the bottomf edge ofthe bell vo`r skirt of the turret, to rotate the turret throughout 180 and thus bring the heel-blank supports successively into Working relation 'with the cutterV 25. Locking means for necessary, 4but means for thus positior'iingand holding the turret in the desiredangina'r position can easily be supplied.

To hold lever 55j'out of engagement with cori- 55, Figs. 9 and 1 1, mounted trol-sleeve53 long enough vto .permit theclutcn' 5| and shaft 49 to'make'thegneeessary 'number free vmi a shaft t1 and 39, lpulley 4| and V-b'elt fr c meeesotiiefieg .fhaifl 4 1 and appropriate sprockets fixedn'therespective shafts, and is coupled gear 'Il on the ill-iper thetulret has `not been found of turns to bring the new 'heeleblan'kinto worki ing yrelation with the cutterby rotation of 'the turret head, ,fa counter 15, Fig.' 11, is mounted on a jackshaft tated shaftj49 byintermeshingspur gears ,8|,.19, respectively "xedto,` these proper ratio' to irrpartexa'ctly one l'full rotation lldriv'en from periodically ro'-` two shafts, having 'the 93 connecting the two parts.`

half-turn of the turret head just described, While guarding against premature commencement of these operations, .a delayed-action clutch-release ,81 is mounted on shaft 11, Fig'. 8, and also Figs. l0 to 14. In the latter five of these drawings, the 'parts are vievs'zed'inv elevation from' the righthand vend of ,the rng'ichne.,T This clutch-release has an internal member v89fkeyed to shaft 11 and a relatively movable outer ring 9| urged to rotate with the internal member by a coil'spring As shaft 11 is ro`- tated vcounter-clockwise, a `striker on outer ring A9| engages'a rollerv 91 on the end of an arm 99 vfixed on rockshaft51. This engagement arrests the striker and ring of the clutch-release, stressing the sp1'ing`93 as the internal member 89 continues its rotationwith shaft".

As shaft 11 rotates, the rirnof a notched counter y||)|, Figs. 10 andl3, xedthereon holds a lever |03 xed on rockshaft 51 in such position as to keep rockshaft 51 rocked jand the collar 91 in' position to arrest temporarily the travel of striker 95,' the 'parts `rerriaining 'in' the relation of Figs, 10 and 121. Butywhen shaft 11 co'mpletes its single rotation 4the en'd of lever |03 drops intol a notch in "counter II'BI, as shown in Fig. 13, which `permits reverse rotation of rockshaft 51 in a counter-clockwisedirection under the4 pressure of spring-impelled striker 95 on outer ring 9| of the delayed-'action clutch, to allow arm 99 to move into its dotted line position of Fig. 12 and to permit striker` 95 to slip by roller 91. :As alreadyA noted, as thisoccurs, shaft 11 isV `completing its single revolution and counter 15 fixed thereon has turned into positiontolet dog 83 enter the notch in such counter', which lets lever 55 rise )to engage 4thecontrol-sleeve 53 of single revolution clutch 5| and thus terminate the driving of shaft`49 which rotates the turret Aand'vvhich also drives shaftn. f' f The striker 95 l'as 'it *s naps'by'` rll`91 strikes a second roll ||15, carriedb'y an arm |91, Figs. 10 and 14, fixed on shaft7-51'andlpivotally connected 'to a link lgwhi'ch-'is'in tu'rnfpivotally connected to the shortarm of a three-armedlever" '|13 `freelyrotating on a stud fixed ,in afstand ||5 on shelf29. the'blow of'striker 95 forces roll |95 out of its path, the-corresponding movementof arm |91 thrusts link |09 bto the leftjdisengaging the straight right-hand end f-lever L| I3 froin'a shoulder on the control-sleeve ||1 of a Ysecond single `revolution lclutch 1| I9 'whose invgaging with a worm gear which is xed on a .sleeve |21, Fig. 3, rotating in a Vertical bearing .backthereof until'the cutter has reached the v'op- |29 xed in sunken top panel I 15 of the machine. This sleeve is provided with a pair of internal grooves in which work the splines of a short vertical shaft |3| having a head 4|33 which has a transverse tongue across its circular top face. Shaft I2 I, and shaft 49 also, contain couplings 5U having radially slotted interengaging faces enabling an axial shift of the two portions of each shaft connected together by these couplings, for the purpose of accurately timing the parts driven by these two shafts. f

The splined shaft |3| constitutes the means for rotating the heel-blank on its vertical axis while within range of the cutting blades of the cutter. Thus, each of the plurality of heel-spindles comprises a turn-table 3, Figs. 5 and 6, keyed and secured by nut to a vertical spindle |31 rotating freely in a vertical bearing |39 afxed by means of lugs |ll| to seats on the vertical side wall of the bell of turret Li, one being located at each end of a diametrical line through the bell. As noted, it is contemplated to install spindles at four locations 90 apart about the axis of the turret, in cases where it is desired to perform a sanding operation on the heel after trimming, at a station located between the point where the heel-blank is trimmed by the knife and the point at the front of the machine where new heelblanks are being put in place on the spindle. The fourth station, diametrically opposite the sanding station, affords the operator a chance to Averify the setting of the heel on its supporting surface before the heel reaches the knife, A thrust-bearing m3 is interposed between the top of the housing 39 and turn-table 3 to assure free rotation of the turn-table while the heel is held firmly thereagainst by the presser mechanism.

To drive the heel-spindle from splined shaft i3l, a collar |55 is pinned to the bottom end of spindle |51, and formed at its bottom surface with a deep diametrical slot to receive the correspondingly-shaped transverse tongue on head I 33 on splined shaft |3|. Thus, when these parts are clutched together in alignment, rotation of shaft 22| transmits rotation to heel-spindle |31 vto revolve the heel-blank on its vertical axis while being trimmed.

To ,ensure the heel-spindles and the blanks borne thereby always arriving at their several stations in the same angular relation, thus insuring proper clutching of the shaft to the spindie, a circula track m1 is provided which completely encirc es the base of the bell of the turret at the level o1' tongued head |33 of splined shaft II, such track being interrupted adjacent head |53; on this track slides the slotted collar |45 of each heel-spindle, thus presenting the slotted collar in proper angular relation to slide into engaging and driving relation with the head of shaft |3I as each heel-spindle in turn is brought into working position in front of cutter 25 through rotation of turret After the heel-blank on its spindle arrives at its station in front of the knife, and commences to rotate on its vertical axis, one side of the heelblank adjacent a corner formed by the breasttrimming operation is first presented to the action of the cutter 25; shaft ISI rotates slowly throughout a full turn, through the driving means described, to cause the cutter to trim the entire circuit of the heel around the sides and larger gear by thumb-screw posite corner .0f the breast of the heel.

To shape the heel in plan, relative motion of the vertical axis of the heel with respect to the orbit ofthe cutting edges of the knife |69 on cutter'25 must be provided, and this is accomplished inthe present machine by moving the table 21 carrying cutter 25 and motor 23 toward and from the axis of rotation of the heel-blank, as already noted. This in-and-out travel of the cutter is attained by driving a secondary shaft |5| mounted in bearings close beside shaft |3| by means of interengaging spur gears |53, |55, respectively xed on these two shafts, and by mounting on the top end of shaft |5| a cam |54 bearing ,against a plate |51, Fig. 2, adjustably xed on table 21, the whole table being urged toward the turret by contracting coil springs |59 attached to .the rear end of the table and anchored to the machine frame t0 cause the table to move toward and from the turret in accordance with the shape of cam |54. This cam is removably held on its shaft by a nut |6|, so that it may be easily replaced by another cam of different shape when the shape of the heel is to be varied.

.It is not necessary to change vthe cam to vary the size of the heel, as this is accomplished through adjustment of the position of plate |51 lengthwise of table 21. The plate slides in short tracks |62 hung from the under surface of the table, and has a downwardly extending lug on its under surface which is threaded and engaged with a screw thread on the end of a shaft |63 manually rotated by crank |65. When plate |51 is moved rearwardly with respect to table k21, away from the turret, it lets the cutter 25 approach nearer the turret and thus makes a smaller size of heel. A small pinion gear on screw-shaft |63 engages with a larger index gear alongside of it in housing |61 therefor, and an index dial is adjustably fixed to the face of this |69, this index dial bearing graduations corresponding to the various established sizes of heels, Thus, with any random setting of the table by means of screw |53,'a heel-blank is cut into the form of a finished heel, the size checked against the known standard, and the index set to indicate the size thus found. Thereafter, moving of the screw |63 in either direction until one of the size markings 'on the index dial corresponds with the pointer marked on the housing will give exactly the size of heel indicated by the dial. Hence, ,once the size resulting from any given position supporting surface of away in the process.

Unique forms of heels such as that shown in Figs. 19 and 20, having the usual rounded shape at the cupped end conforming to the outlines of the heel portion of the shoe, but with a polygonal shape in horizontal section at the tread end of the heel, and with the flattened areas incident to such polygonal shape faired regular cam |54, Fig. turret by means of adjusting screw I 95, Fig. 3, and cutting the heel over again while the movement of the table is controlled by an appropriately shaped cam such as |56,'Fig. 18, substituted on shaft |5| for cam |54.

Table 21 runs on ball-bearing rollers |1|, Fig. 7, mounted on shouldered pins :|13 put through the side framef3| of the. machine and also through the flange of the depressed top panel |15 of the machine frame. The .inward portions of these pins |13 are formed eccentric, and on these latter portions are rolls |11 which bear against tracks |19 xed to the under side of table 21 whereby any tendency of the table to vibrate upwardly under the resistance met with by the cutter 25 can be counteracted through rotation of pins |13; after adjustment, these pins are locked by nuts |8|. A third form of guiding means for the table, to prevent deviation in a horizontal plane.l comprises rollers |03 on vertical studs fixed in the top panel |15 andv bearing against a vertical surface on tracks |19, the studs for the rollers at one `side of the machine being transversely adjustable by means of slotsV in the panel |15 to provide for taking up all transverse slack in the mountingof the table.

The reaction of the cutter upon impact of its blades against the heel-blank is effectually absorbed by the great weight of the table and its load of motor and cutter, aided by the two strong table-moving springs.` A housing |84 around the cutter lboth guards the blades and catches the chips. f

To give the heel its desired shape in profile, a change in the `relative elevation of the heelblank with respect to the axis of rotation of knives |49 on the cutteris utilized. That is, a change in the level at Which the heel-blank is tangent to the orbit of the knives givesthe back of the heel its customary sharper slope as regards the sides of the heel which is `required in shaping the heels for womens shoes. This is accomplished herein by lifting and lowering the entire turret with its heel-spindles and the heelblanks thereon as the working heel-spindle is rotated on its vertical axis. To do so, the turret 4 rotates on a similarly shaped guidek |85, having a fianged bottom rim |81 firmly lxed on the sunken top panel |15 of the machine frame; the interior of the cylindrical upper portion of the turret slides and rotates freely on the correspondingly-shaped portion of this guide, Within the guide is a supporting shaft |09 having xed on its upper end a collar |9| on which rests the bottom element of an anti-friction bearing |93 connected to the top end of turret 4 and carrying the weight of the turret with all its parts. Into the lower endk of turret shaft |89 is threaded an adjusting screw |95, Fig. 3, having a knurled rim for manual adjustment, and having its head in contact with a shoulder on a bracket |91 which has a split lsleeve |99 fitting around the foot of shaft |89 and clamped tightly in place thereon by cap-screw This bracket carries a roll or cam-follower 203 which rests upon the periphery of a cam 205 whose rotation causes the ,lifting and lowering of the entire turret and thus of the heel-blank to present the latter to the cutter at the desired levels to effect vthis rphase of the shaping of the heel. Adjustment of the levelsthroughout which the turret rises and 'falls under the action of cam 205, so as to change the style of the heel, is thusv easily effected by loosening screw 20| and manipulating adjusting screw |95 so as to inereaseor diminish the effective length of turret shaft |89. This, combined with adjustment of the radius of the knife-edges on cutter 25, provides for a wide variation of the cut. ybracket |91. has a slot 201 profiles of the sides and rear of the vheels thus To guide the foot of turret ,shaft .189, fitting over a small block 209 supported in fixed position fromthe under -side of top panel |15, this block serving to hold bracket |91 against rotation and so that it moves in a fixed vertical plane,y thus maintaining the foot of the shaft in vertical alignment over the axis of cam 205.

Cam 205 is mounted on a short countershaft 2| |i supported vin suitable bearings from the under' side `of top panel |15, Vand having fixed thereon a-spur gear 2|3, Fig. 8, driven by an equal spurgear 2 5 on a stub-shaft 2 1 on which is also fixed a wormv gear- 2|9 driven by a worm 22|, Fig. 1, onthe same shaft |2| which imparts the rotation to spline-shaft |3| rotating the heelspindles. Thus the rise and fall of the turret is eifected simultaneously with the rotation of the heel-blank about its vertical axis. i

To stop these'two'motions of the heel-blank when the entire convex portions of the sides of the blank have been subjected to the action of the cutter, bevel gears 223, Fig. 8, respectively fixed onthe ends of .countershaft 2|| and ona longitudinally extendingcountershaft 225, Fig. 8, drive the latter shaft to rotate a counter 221, `whose full diameter periphery engages the toothed left-hand extremity of three-armed lever ||3, Figs. l0 andrll, holding the straight righthand, endj of such lever out of the, path of the shoulder on control-ring ||1 of clutch H9, (the lever having been rocked by striker 95 through link |09A as earlier described) until the notchin the rim of counter 221 completes a full rotation and again receives the toothed left-hand end of lever ||3, whereupon the lever rocks reversely and its right-hand end engages the shoulder of control-ring ||1, disengaging the clutch v| |9 and arresting vthe drive of shaft |2| and all the connected partsvwhich lift and rotate the heel-blank and shift the cutter toward and from the axis of rotation of theheel-blank. This completes the working cycle, ofthe machine on any given heel-blank and; brings .it to rest, and a fresh actuation of treadle 2| is' necessary to begin the next cycle by rotatingthe turret. g

kTo prevent a second and premature actuation of the treadle from throwing the timing out, shaft 11 carries a cam 229, Figs. 8 and 9, which is engaged by a follower in the form of a roll 23| on a yoke 233 Vhaving one end astride shaft 11 and its other end sliding in guideway in connection with the frame of the machine, and beyond such guideway equipped .:ith two pins 235' standing respectively at opposite sides of push-link 63 which is connected to starting treadle 2|, theyoke being pressed against the cam by a coil spring '231. Thus, as soon as4 shaft 49 begins its-rotation,the resulting rotationof shaft 11 'causes cam 229 to thrust link 63 out of lifting engagement with shoulder 59 on starting lever 55, thisV inoperative relation of the link persisting until shaft 11 has completed its single turn, with the accompanying number of rotations of shaft 49 needed to'bring `the next heelspindle on the turret into its next station. As noted, completion of the single rotation of shaft 11 initiates the rotation of shafts |2| and 225, and on the shaft is an additional counter 239, Figs. 8 and 9, which thereupon takes over the task of blocking a second actuation of lever 55 until the machine has completed its cycle.

To make the track |41, which orients the heelspindles during their circuit around the turret,

follow the turret ini the latters rising and falling movement whichgives the heel the desired pro' file on'sides and back, a bracket 24|, Figs. 3 and 4, is fixed uponfnonrotating turret-lifting shaft l|89` by means of a key and set screws through its hub which surrounds such shaft. Track |41 is supported on' radial arms of this bracket, and thus the track follows the turret up and down to maintain a. constant level with the slotted collars |45 comprising the-bottom ends of the several heel-spindles. This track also serves to carry the splined shaft I3I up and down through sleeve |21', so as to keep'the transverse tongue on its head end in driving engagement with the slotv in bottomv end |45 ofV the heel-spindle throughout the rise and vfall of the turret. For this purpose, a yoke 243 of horseshoe shape in plan engages in a groove 245, Fig. 3, in the head |33 on the spline shaft, the yoke being attached by screws to the under side of the track at each side of the gap left therein for interengagement of the shaft head with the spindle bottom.

Pivot I3 for arm II on which the manuallyoperated locating gauge 9 is mounted, is also xed in a lateral extension of bracket 24| supportingthe track.

The track is continuous around its entire circuit except where interrupted for the head of spline shaft I3I so that each heel-spindle occupies a given angular position while waiting for reloading at the front of the machine throughout the operation of cutting the heel-blank on the alternate spindle.

As already noted, the primary support for the heel-blank in themachine is the aluminum plate 5 on which the cupped end of the blank is seated,

either with or'without the interposition of a sheet of paper 8, Fig.' l5. This plate is fixed by a screw I and located by two points I2, intended to be embedded in the heel-blank, on top of a wedge block I4 whichgives thedesired angle to the cupped end of the heel, and which block is replaced by others of diiferent inclination for different styles of rheels, asshown in Fig. 17. This block |4 has a tongue on its under surface received ina `corresponding slot in the top of the turntab1e-3 of' eachlheel-spindle, so that the heel will always start from the same relative angular position in being shaped, and the reduced and threaded top end of spindle |31 above nut |35 ts snugly in'an unthreaded hole through the wedge block to prevent lateral escape. The breast-gauge 1 is screwed to the tall end of wedge block I4.

The presser mechanism which holds the heelblank firmly in position on points I2 and plate 5vduring the cutting, is shown in Fig. l and comprises a spindle vI5 with a swiveling foot in balland-socket connection, the spindle being mounted to slide. up and down and rotate freely in a sleeve I8 located above and in axial alignment with the axis of each heel-spindle in the outer end' of a bracket 20 extending laterally from the cylindrical top portion ofthe turret. Each spindle I5 is pressed downward by a thumb-4 screw 22 whichv is also in ball-and-socket swiveling connection with the top end of its spindle, and capable of lifting the spindle upward away from the heel block for removal of the latter. The shank of the thumb screw passes through a split nut clamped together by asmall transverse screw 24 to bind the thumb screw against unwanted rotation. This split nut is in turn swiveledv on horizontal pintles in the forked end of a lever 26 pivoted in a bracket 28 extending upy from spindle bracket 20. The opposite end of this lever 26 is connected by a link 30 to an arm 32 xed on a transverse rockshaft actuated by thefhandle I1, so that when the handle is pushed up the toggle-linkage composed of link 30 and arm 32 straightens and then passes beyond centers and thus locks the spindle iniits downwardly extended relationin which it presses hard upon the upper or tread end of the heel-blank. A simple adjustment of thumb screw 22 for heels of different heights serves to allow the toggle to lock as the foot of the spindle exerts the desired downward pressure upon the heel-blank.

Each presser thus put into clamping relation with a heel-blank at the right-hand end of the machine remains locked in clamping relation while the turret carries the particular heelspindle and blank clamped thereon to and beyond the cutting position, and at any desired point in the circuit of the turret after leaving the vicinity of the cutter the high point of a cam 34 fixed on the top end of the turret shaft |89 presses the toggle reversely and the weight of handle I1 either alone or aided if necessary by an auxiliary spring, folds up the toggle joint and lifts spindle I5 to free the heel after removal and make way for the insertion of a new heelblank when the spindle arrives at its station at the front of the machine. In practice, a simple striker 36 aiiixed to the side of track |41 and having a horizontal inwardly-extending finger in the path of the heels and just clearing the top of breast-gauge 1, occupies a stationary position to knock 01T the shaped heels from their spindles into a chute 38 so that each spindle arrives empty at Aits loading station.

Motor 23 is mounted on a plate 25|, hinged to sliding table 21 at 253, and adjusted up or down by screw 255,Y to tighten V-belt 43 driving the mechanism.

While I have illustrated and described certain forms in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departingfrom the scope of the invention as expressed inthe claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular forms but What I do claim is:

1. A heel-shaping machine having a combination means supporting and rotating the heel, a cutter acting on the heel while thus supported and rotated about a fixed axis extending through the heel, and means guiding the supporting and rotating means toward and from the cutter in a circular path, the supporting and rotating means being arrested in its travel along such path while the cutter is acting on the heel.

2.` A heel-shaping machine having in combination means supporting and rotating the heel, a cutter acting on the heel while thus supported and rotated about a xed axis'extending through the heel, and means carrying the supporting and rotating means toward and from the cutter in a xed path, the carrying means being inactive to propel the heel along such path while the cutter is acting on the heel.

3. A heel-shaping machine having in combination means supporting and rotating the heel about a fixed axis passing through the heel, a cutter acting on the heel while thus supported and rotated, and means mounting the supporting and rotating means for rotation on an axis apart from that through the heel, rotation about shown, or to the details of construction thereof,

the two axes being effected alternately and not by the cutter, and meansV carrying the supportv ing devices to and from the cutterV respectively before and .after the cutting, but inactive during the cutting.

5. A heel-shaping machine having iny combination devices supporting and rotatingthe. heel on a, xed axis, means imparting movement to the heel along such. axis, and a cutter cutting the Vheel while the latterV is thus rotated and moved on the xed axis.

' 6. A heel-shaping machine having in combination devices supporting and rotating the heel on afixed axis, means imparting movement to the heel along such axis, and a cutter; rotatlng on an axis at rightl angles to such axis cutting the heel while the latter is Vthus rotated and moved onl the fixed axis.

7. A heel-shaping machinehaving in combiy nation devices supporting and rotating the heel on an axis'xed in the machine frame and extending through the heel, arotary cutter cutting the heel, and means moving the cutter bodily toward and from such axis during the cutting.

8. A heel-shaping machine having in combination a cutter, a plurality of devices for supporting heel-blanks .with capacity for rotation,r

means carrying such devices successively past the cutter, and means rotating each heel-blank about a xed axis passing through the heelblank when presented to the'cutter by the carrying means, to propel the heel past the'cutter during such presentation.

9. A heel-shaping machine having in combination a rotating carrier, a plurality or` heelsupports rotatablyv xed equidistant relationr from the axis of the carrier, a cutter to which each heel is presented in succession While onI its support by the rotation of the carrier, and means for rotating each support about a xed axis passing through its heel while its heel is presented to the cutter and while the carrier is at rest.

10. A heel-shaping machine according to claim 9 having means acting in'timed relation with the rotation of the support shifting the cutter toward and from the latter support.

l1. A heel-shaping ymachine having in combination a rotating carrier, a plurality of heelsupports rotatably mounted on such carrier in equidistant relation from the axis of the carrier, a cutter, and means automatically rotating the carrier to bring a support into proximity to the cutter, rotating the support in such location about a fixed axis coaxial with the support while the carrier is at rest, and simultaneously shifting the cutter toward and from the support.

12. A heel-shaping machine having in combination a driving* element rotating on a iixed axis, a plurality of rotatable heel-supports, means bringing the supports successively into driving engagement. with the driving element to the carrying means being inactive mounted on such carrier in vrelation to the rotation of the rotate, each supportin turn, and means: shaping ai heelvon; a, support while thus rotated.: y

f 1-3.. A- heel-shaping machine having in. combination'a rotating turret, a plurality of ,heelsupports at spaced intervals about the axisV of rotation of the turret and each rotatable about anaxis parallel to the turrets axis, means automatically rotating' the turret to bring each heelsupport in succession into, a predetermined` position and thereuponto rotate the support on its axis, a cutter, a movable support for the cutter, means yieldingly moving the cutters support and thus :the cuttertoward the axis. of; the .rotating heel-support, and cam means actuatedin timed heel-support upon controlling the spaced relation of the to the axisl of the rotating its axis, cutterl with respect heel-support.

A 14. vA heel-shaping mechanism having; in. combination a rotating turret.4 a plurality of heelsupports at spaced intervals about the axis of rotation of, the turret andv each rotatable about an axis parallel to the turrets axis; meansautomatically rotating the turretl to bringV each heelsupport in succession into a predetermined position and thereupon to rotate the support on its axis, a cutter, a movable support for the cutter carrying the cutter toward and from the axis of the heel-support in timed relation to the rotation thereof, and cam means lifting and lowering the turret in timed relation to the rotation of the heel-support on its axis. 15. A heel-shaping machine having in combination a rotating heel-support, means pressing the heel downwardly against such support, means trimming a heel held on such support, devices conveying the'rotating heel-support and tne heel held thereon to and from the trimming means, and;l means automatically lifting the pressing means and thus releasing the trimmed heel fromq theheel-support after trimming.

v16. A heel-shaping member having in combination, a cutter, a rotatable support presenting the: heel to the cutter, devices moving the support andu thus the heel along the axis oi rotation of the support while the cutter is working on the heel, and manually adjustableA means varying the movement' of the heel by such devicesy and thus' varying the shape givenfto the heel by the cutter. I

17. Alheel-shaping machine having in combination heel-trimming means, heel-supportingy means. carrying means transporting they heelsupporting means to and from the `trimming means; power devices propelling the carrying means, control means worked bythe operator of the machine setting the `powerI devices in action to propel the carrying means: till the heelsupporting means is presented to the trimming means, other power devices rotating the heelsupporting means and. set in action when the Y heel-supporting. means power devices in thus presented to the 

